CFMMEU backs crowdfunding campaign for its officials

The CFMMEU is flouting the rules by backing a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for two of its officials to pay almost $20,000 in court fines.

CFMMEU Secretary John Setka has been responsible for more than $17 million in fines and legal fees since 2004.

Victoria’s militant construction union is backing a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for two of its officials to pay almost $20,000 in court fines, despite being ordered not to help them.

The crowdfunding webpage – which flies in the face of a court order last month – will be seized upon by the Morrison Government in its push to pass new laws allowing courts to deregister unions and officials who repeatedly break the law.

It comes as the Herald Sun can reveal law-breaking and militancy by the CFMMEU in Victoria and Tasmania is estimated to have cost its members over $28 million in fines and legal fees since 2004.

Embattled state secretary John Setka has been responsible for more than $17 million fines and legal fees over that time.

The crowdfunding webpage to raise money for two CFMMEU officials.

CFMMEU officials Stephen Long and Drew Macdonald were personally fined $11,500 and $7800 for entering two building sites in Melbourne without giving prior notice and refusing to show their right-of-entry permits.

They have to personally pay the fines and could be held in contempt of court and jailed if the union compensates them. Victorian Trades Hall has since set up a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for the fines, which has been shared on Facebook by the CFMMEU’s Victorian branch.

The page has already raised thousands of dollars in donations for the pair.

Handing down the decision in the Federal Court in Melbourne on June 21, Justice Mordecai Bromberg said that the two union officials needed to personally pay the fines “to accomplish the intended sting and burden”.

He said the CFMMEU, and in particular the Victorian branch, had an “appallingly long history of prior contraventions of industrial laws.

“None of the CFMMEU, MacDonald or Long have exhibited any contrition or remorse for the contravening conduct,” Justice Bromberg said.

Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter.

Since 2004, the union’s Victorian branch has been slapped with penalties for 703 contraventions of workplace laws.

Blockades, contempt of court findings and legal fees have cost the union’s members a total of $28.6 million.

This does not include the 13 matters before the court, the most of any state branch in the country.

The government’s attempt to revive the union-busting legislation today comes as Labor tries to expel Mr Setka from the party.

Labor yesterday formally resolved to oppose the Bill, saying it is unfair as there are still big differences between provisions relating to unions and corporations.

Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter said the proposed laws were about making sure all registered organisations operated within the law.

“We all know that in a small element of the union movement, there are problems that need to be fixed,” he said.

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